'57 & '59 Project Plan -Setting Reasonable goals?

Project Plan

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1957 Triumph Tr3 Rat Rod

Phase 1 of the ’57 Triumph Project: to December 15,2014

Complete the 57 to engine start up . Get parts painted in October2014 and installed where it makes sense through the balance of 2014….Move the car outside for the winter-EARLY DECEMBER IS PREFERABLE. Intent is to move it out at whatever stage of completion. Tarp to be installed and vehicle winterized. Potential engine/trans may not be serviceable. Would need to change focus on drivetrain if this is the case.

Make sure the car is appraised and insured before doing so.

The rat rod will be the main focus during October 2014. Intent is to keep expenditures low through the balance of the project.Scrounging parts etc. Focus on “coolness” without excess.

Phase 11 of the build starts in May 2015 with a focus during the winter of 2015 to locate missing components such as a gas tank, rad test and painting , windshield, etc etc.

1959 Triumph

Phase 1 “goal” of the ’59 Triumph project is to body mounting on the assembled but not completed chassis before April 15th.Classified as a “the” winter project. Includes chassis build up but potentially not hydraulics or front brakes, brake lines , shocks etc..(long list) but to rolling chassis status.Includes the Moss Rack and Pinion etc… Expenditures to be kept to a bare minimum through the winter. Look at the potential of utilizing the “spare” rear brake parts etc…..List to be compiled in the winter outlying what needs to be purchased. Body will not be permanently mounted on chassis. Intention is to refurbish the1957 engine to operating status and start it up before April 2015. A starter motor might be a required purchase… Once again focusing on component check out and installation where applicable and to use all existing parts before any new components are purchase. Note: both engines check out then the ’57 will be swapped back into the rat rod... If only one works out then an engine transplant on the ’57 will be considered. At least explored.

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Phase 11 of the project is the body work and final paint which will commence in mid May 2015. Funds to be put aside for the project through the course of the winter. Intention is to undertake the body work during the summer months inside the garage. Budget estimate is around $1000.00?

Once the body work is completed focus will turn back to the procuring the required component pcs.

1957 deficiency list

Gas tank

Steering column

Windshield

Side curtains

Seats???

Need to further exploration on the status of the parts in the partsbins and fasteners? Is there anything to sell? i.e. the moss side rail, steering box etc.

Fasteners and Other Misc Parts Ordered

Time in Garage: none

It has been a quiet week Triumph wise. No garage time since the last entry

Tonite I ordered replacement fasteners for the transmission to engine mounting. No luck in locating my cleaned and painted fasteners so I decided to reorder tonite...Included was a new brake switch, drain tap and hold down clamps-brake line to differential and a few other odds and ends. Also I was offered a new front bumper at a discounted price. I sat on the fence for a few weeks but decided to commit today as I am going to eventually need one....

Body Off Again/Brake Line Routing

Time in Garage: 3 hours

Yesterday I determined to remove the body from the frame one more time. Access to the bolts I need to cut off/remove (on the outrigger flanges) is too difficult with the body on the chassis. I also decided having the body back  on the stands makes for easier access for the tasks I need to complete in the near future.

Last night I was very low energy but decided time spent in the garage was more productive than watching tv so I ventured out for an hour or so and tried to install brake lines. I has previously rerun them but removed them when I had the chassis straightened/checked in 2012. They have been kicking around the garage for months and often getting in the way...after some trial fits I got most of the lines figured out but ran into trouble with the rear axle configuration. Now resolved based on research on the Internet...an excellent resource..

Musings

On Saturday I moved the chassis back into the garage...I was concerned about exposure to the elements by leaving it in the driveway...time spent: 45 minutes ( I had to remove the rear wheels again to move the chassis under the body stand...)..time well spent...

I am presently in the midst of another major project-decluttering our basement which is detracting from me getting back to the Triumph assembly. The job has a big scope as there are many tasks to complete...my wife and I are on a 31 day timeline (we are making good progress-now on day 7) to remove all unwanted and unused stuff and free up space to maximize her art studio efficiency...a much needed enhancement and a very logical priority....

I hope to sneak out to the garage for an hour or two today and do some sorting of parts and clean up of the space...I also plan to move a better stereo out there (the components are presently stored in my basement) as the existing unit is cumbersome to use and doesn't have very good sound...

I continue to ponder the whole "project management" aspect of rebuilding old cars. Making the work a priority and knocking off tasks to get me closer to completion...As I have discussed earlier I can see why so many project cars get abandened...reality sets in with respect to skills, money, scope and most importantly time...I don't want my project to become a statistic in the abandoned project car world...

While in the garage yesterday I realized "once again" my tools are in a state of disaray which is a distraction to me....I need to focus on this aspect today...